Games Don't Just Let You Escape. They Also Help You Remember

Video games aren't unique in the way they make us nostalgic, but those memories do seem to persist more than other forms of entertainment. Here's why.

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The US Government Is Finally Moving at the Speed of Tech

Lina Khan’s ascendance to the top of the FTC, and a set of bipartisan antitrust proposals, shows just how much has changed in Washington—and how suddenly.

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This Low-Tech Habit Kept Me Connected in the Lonely Pandemic

Going on my runs just wasn't the same in a locked-down city. It was time to phone a friend.

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Some Practical Advice for Living With a Writer

It's not always easy, but fantasy author Jane Lindskold's book Wanderings on Writing provides some honest tips.

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The 9 Best Turntables for Your Vinyl Collection

Looking for fresh indoor hobbies? Why not start a record collection? These entry-level turntables will help you enjoy analog audio at home.

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The Mystery of Betelgeuse's Dimming Has Finally Been Solved

Astronomers say a cold patch and a stellar burp are behind the star's strange dip in brightness.

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A New Tool Wants to Save Open Source from Supply Chain Hacks

Sigstore will make code signing free and easy for software developers, providing an important first line of defense.

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A Quick and Dirty Agenda for Congress to Curb Big Tech

Plus: A fair-use summit with Girl Talk, how to explain consciousness, and a pre-summer bake.

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The Sex Lives of Superheroes

This week the internet dared to ask: What does Batman do in bed?

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Beware Smokescreen Trolling, Trump Followers' Favorite Tactic

Trumpists have weaponized a new technique to win the ideological war. How pro-democracy voices respond to it matters.

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As the Nation Reopens, Americans Are on the Road Again

With Covid-19 travel restrictions relaxing, citizens are boarding planes, trains, busses, and rideshares in increasing numbers. This week, we look at how that’s going.

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Which Amazon Echo or Alexa Speaker Is Best for You?

From the newest Echo Dot to a voice-enabled Yamaha soundbar, we've rounded up our favorite speakers from Amazon and its partners.

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How to Practice Emergency Preparedness as Self-Care

It's not just about buying a lot of stuff from a list. The key to being ready is all about framing your planning with gratitude, rest, and community.

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Baltimore May Soon Ban Face Recognition for Everyone but Cops

The measure would make private use of the technology illegal, but would not apply to police. It awaits the mayor's signature.

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The Cl0p Bust Shows Exactly Why Ransomware Isn’t Going Away

Ukrainian authorities managed to make some high-profile arrests. But nothing’s going to change until Russia does the same.

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Real Diplomacy is a Start, but the US Needs to Make Putin Pay

Biden's summit with Putin marked a quantum leap forward, but there's still little standing in the way from Russia interfering in future US elections.

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GPS III’s Long Journey Is Picking Up Speed

With the launch of a fifth new-generation satellite, the US finally has a constellation able to globally beam M-Code signals that are tough to spoof or jam.

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The Best Kindles to Take Your Library Anywhere

Amazon has four different ebook readers. Here's how they stack up—and which may be right for you.

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Test Out Next-Gen Space Tech in Kerbal Space Program

Sure, a real-life Epstein drive is still a few breakthroughs away. But the rocket-building game lets you pilot a fusion-propelled craft right now.

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On Microphones, Music, and Our Long Year of Screen Time

Pianist Glenn Gould proved long ago that an existence heavily mediated by technology is not nonexistence.

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The Lithium Mine Versus the Wildflower

The deposit could power 400,000 clean-energy car batteries. There’s just one roadblock: a rare, fragile species of buckwheat, which for a mine might mean extinction.

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18 Last-Minute Father's Day Gifts on Sale Now

Don't panic. You can still grab Dad a present with these deals on electronics, cooking gear, and more.

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The Efforts to Make Text-Based AI Less Racist and Terrible

Language models like GPT-3 can write poetry, but they often amplify negative stereotypes. Researchers are trying different approaches to address the problem.

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The Delta Variant and Low Vaccine Rates Could Spell Trouble

Vaccines are effective against the variant, but experts worry about states where fewer people are inoculated.

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This Robot Spies on Creatures in the Ocean's ‘Twilight Zone’

Mesobot looks like a giant AirPods case, but it's in fact a sophisticated machine that tracks animals making the most epic migration on Earth.

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The Best Games (and Trailers) From E3

The annual gaming event was slightly subdued by the pandemic, but there were still big updates on Zelda, Halo, Far Cry, and more.

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Nintendo Has Been Stuck in a Creative Rut

The company is still publishing big games for the Switch, but recently its titles have an uncharacteristic dullness.

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Become a Prime Day Pro With These Tips and 10 Early Deals

Amazon’s big two-day sale event starts soon. Get prepped with our expert advice and the best discounts we’ve found so far.

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Help! What Should I Do About My Cliquey Coworkers?

Megan weighs in on how to navigate office in-groups—and why having a few people in your corner isn’t a bad thing.

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Sweat Gives Influencers Something They’ve Never Had: Depth

The new Polish-Swedish drama offers a harrowing portrait of social media fame rarely seen in movies.

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How to Pick the Right Roku for Your TV

The company has a dizzying array of streaming sticks, boxes, and soundbars to choose from, but don’t worry—these are the ones to buy.

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The Unwitting Covid Allegory in A Quiet Place Part II

Delayed since March 2020, the horror film ironically forces us to contend with our fragile humanity—and perhaps shows us where to go.

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A Tentacle-Headed Robot Amuses Your Pets While You're Away

This app-controlled cat toy can livestream through its camera while you're away, but it's expensive.

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Why Do I Like Waiting for My Smartphone Photos to 'Develop'?

WIRED’s spiritual advice columnist on apps, impatience, and the struggle to control time itself.

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Apple and Google’s New AI Wizardry Promises Privacy—at a Cost

The companies revealed upgrades for their phones that protect data and reduce reliance on the cloud. It also binds users more tightly to their ecosystems.

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DuckDuckGo’s Quest to Prove Online Privacy Is Possible

The company best known for its search engine is launching a new set of tools aimed at creating an “easy button” for protecting your data online.

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The Challenge of Covid-19 Vaccines for the Immunosuppressed

Recent studies find transplant patients and immune-suppressed people who get the shot don’t make many antibodies. But that research is just beginning.

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Apple Says It's Time to Digitize Your ID, Ready or Not

Digital driver’s licenses have had a slow start in the US so far, but iOS 15 Wallet will give the nascent technology a serious push.

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NASA Might Put a Huge Telescope on the Far Side of the Moon

Observing the secrets of the universe’s “Dark Ages” will require capturing ultra-long radio wavelengths—and we can’t do that on Earth.

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Zillow Taps AI to Improve Its Home Value Estimates

By employing a neural network, the company says its numbers will be more accurate—and allow it to offer to buy more homes.

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The Best iPad to Buy (and the Ones to Avoid)

With several new iPads on the market, choosing the right one is more complicated than ever. We’re here to help.

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Streaming Games to Your TV Actually Started in the '80s

Subscription video gaming services seem like a new idea. But 40 years before Game Pass, you could get Burgertime straight to your tube.

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Ghosts ‘n Goblins Is Back—Pain, Laughs, and All

One of the most unforgiving video game series of all time has risen from the dead, and it’s better than ever.

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WIRED's Ultimate Summer Reading List 2021: Books for Kids and Teens

This surreal school year is finally over. Here are some books to get your young readers in the swing of the season.

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What If Doctors Are Always Watching, but Never There?

Remote technology could save lives by monitoring health from home or outside the hospital. It could also push patients and health care providers further apart.

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How Humans Think When They Think As Part of a Group

The fancy word for it is "entitativity," and it’s produced when people act and feel together in close proximity. We need it more, but we’re getting it less.

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I Treated My Unhealthy Gaming Obsession ... With More Games

The root issue had less to do with the hobby and more to do with me.

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From Tamagotchi to Nintendogs: Why People Love Digital Pets

Electronic companions keep drawing us back—and it's not just because they don't have fleas.

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How Do You Make a Robot Walk on Mars? It's a Steep Challenge

Meet SpaceBok, a little four-legged machine that's taking the first steps toward walking on the Red Planet's brutal terrain.

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How Some Americans Are Breaking Out of Political Bubbles

A growing number of people are seeking a wider diversity of news sources or opinions contrary to their own to combat information silos within social media.

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18 Amazon Prime Perks You Might Not Be Using

Your membership gets you more than free two-day shipping. Here's what you may be missing.

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Pokémon Cards Are Surging. So Is Hate Toward Graders

The business of grading Pokémon cards can be lucrative, time-consuming, and rife with furious, virulent abuse.

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The Biktrix Kutty X Is a Refined Fat-Tire Ebike That Folds

It's more than 60 pounds, but you get a powerful 750-watt motor, a variety of accessories, and a removable battery.

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What Makes Quantum Computing So Hard to Explain?

Before we can even begin to talk about these computers' potential applications, we need to understand the fundamental physics behind them.

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The Best E3 Deals on Top Games and Gear

The biggest week in gaming news is here, and it comes bearing gifts.

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All the New Privacy Features Coming to iOS and macOS

Improvements designed to keep your email private, crack down on data stealing apps, and help you find lost devices are on their way.

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Which Amazon Fire Tablet Is Best for You?

Whether you need a travel-friendly tablet or something affordable for the kids, we tested every model to find the right one for everybody.

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Google Won't Kill the URL After All

Plus: A Colonial Pipeline update, inside details of the FBI's Anom caper, and more of the week's top security news.

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We Asked Giant Robot Experts to Critique Video Game Mecha

How realistic are Metal Gears and Titans anyway? WIRED asked industrial design and robotics pros how they'd operate.

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What You Should Know About Voilá, the Latest Viral Selfie App

Before you use it to cartoonify your face, consider the risks to your data.

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When the Bison Come Back, Will the Ecosystem Follow?

An effort to bring wild buffalo to the Great Plains aims to restore one of the world’s most endangered landscapes and increase climate resilience.

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Here's Why Gadgets Are So Hard to Get Right Now

Whether it's a graphics card or the PS5, delays and stock shortages seem to be the norm. The reasons involve the pandemic, politics, and ... crypto?

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Which iPhone Should You Buy (or Avoid) Right Now?

Picking the right phone has become increasingly difficult. This breakdown of Apple's lineup will help.

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The 17 Best Weekend Deals on Headphones, Webcams, and More

Beat the Prime Day rush with these early sales on the Fitbit Charge 4, AirPods Pro, and the GoPro Hero9, among others.

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As Ransomware Demands Boom, Insurance Keeps Paying Out

While major carriers like AXA have backed away from covering ransoms, don't expect the industry at large to break the vicious cycle.

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The FBI's Anom Stunt Rattles the Encryption Debate

The agency spent years running a secure phone network for criminals. So much for “going dark.”

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Why Do People Love UFOs So Much?

Sci-fi author F. Brett Cox loves stories with mysterious spacecraft but is a firm skeptic when it comes to actual alien visitors.

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To Fight Online Misinformation, Criminalize Voter Suppression

Congress should salvage a provision buried in the rubble of HR1 that would hold platforms liable for election misinformation.

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The Best Mouse (and Mousepads) for Every Kind of Gamer

Whether you're into esports or casual fragging, these are the greatest gaming mice we’ve tested.

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A Mystery Malware Stole 26 Million Passwords From Windows PCs

The credentials were part of a trove containing 1.2 terabytes of sensitive data extracted between 2018 and 2020.

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Loki and the Return of Appointment Television

Not since Game of Thrones have audiences really cared about watching something right when it airs. Thanks to a recent spate of streaming hits, that seems to be changing.

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Jeff Bezos Risks It All for His Space Dream

Plus: The origins of Blue Origin, Apple's annoying error messages, and a Kardashian plot twist.

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You're Probably Not Using the Web's Best Browser

With endless new customization options, like new email clients and a feed reader, Vivaldi 4.0 just got better.

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Amazon's Fire HD 10 Is Still the Best Cheap Tablet Around

The 10-inch tablet gets an optional keyboard and office apps, but it's still best as a cheap way to access all your Prime content.

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MacOS Monterey Is When Apple Starts Leaving Intel Macs Behind

For the first time, some of Apple's own features will only be available on computers with the company's homegrown silicon.

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Apple Wants to Control Your Universe

This week, we talk about all things WWDC and Apple’s quest for worldwide gadget domination.

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Games Are Reimagining the Road Trip for a Modern Era

Developers are using procedural generation, resource management, and dialog choices to create memorable and powerful journeys.

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A New Way to Understand the Brain's Intricate Rhythm

Researchers have found evidence in humans that individual neurons time their firing to a deeper beat. But there’s a mystery: What does it mean?

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Hackers Stole a Ton of EA Data—Including Valuable Source Code

The video game publisher confirmed the breach, which could be a boon to the shadowy world of cheat-makers.

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How Risky Is It to Send Jeff Bezos to the Edge of Space?

Today's commercial spacecraft have a safety advantage, thanks to simpler designs and suborbital missions. But with rockets, nothing is certain.

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Political and Urban-Rural Divides Prolong The Digital Divide

Democrats and Republicans alike need to be honest about how much broadband for all will cost. And they can make Big Tech help pay for it.

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The Joy and Misery of Hunting for Video Game Trophies

For some, relentlessly unlocking achievements is a lifestyle. For others, it's a headache.

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Remember When Multiplayer Gaming Needed Envelopes and Stamps?

The history of play-by-mail includes bribes, forgeries, and games that took years to finish.

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How to Protect Species and Save the Planet—at Once

A major new report calls on humanity to tackle the biodiversity and climate crises simultaneously. Here's what that might look like.

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Amazon's New Buds Make It Easier to Summon Alexa Than Ever

With good sound and excellent app integration, Amazon's latest wireless earbuds are an affordable AirPods Pro alternative.

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How to Celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month—IRL or Online

With the ongoing pandemic, here are a variety of ways you can join in at home, or anywhere.

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VC Pledged to 'Do Better' on Diversity. It's Barely Changed

The Black Lives Matter protests drew sympathetic public statements from investors in 2020. One year later, signs of progress are harder to find.

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The Best Made-Up Worlds Are Made Up of Real Parts

Helene Wecker’s The Hidden Palace brings magic to 20th century Manhattan. Turns out that’s easier than putting the wrong stormtroopers into Star Wars Land.

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They Role-Played Fascism in Roblox. Were They Fashies IRL?

Thousands of players flocked to a digital world filled with draconian rules, slavery, and anti-Semitism—and tested how far “just a game” can go.

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Facial Verification Won't Fight Fraud

Unemployment fraud is a real problem, and biased software only makes it worse. States need privacy-preserving alternatives.

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The Case for Putting Down the Video Game Controller

If gaming isn’t as fulfilling as it used to be, it’s OK to walk away and go do something else.

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Help! How Do I Make Work Friends When Everyone's Remote?

Guest columnist Alan Henry offers advice for putting yourself out there online.

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Meowza! Spoil Your Kitty With Deals on Cat Gear

From comfy beds to water fountains, we found sales on cat supplies to kick off Adopt-a-Cat Month.

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What It Takes to Turn a Video Game Into a Tabletop One

How do developers take open worlds and condense them into a form that fits on your coffee table? It's not easy, but when it works, it's incredible.

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Want OLED and Speed for Under $1,000? Get This Asus Laptop

The AMD-powered ZenBook 13 is one of the best values we’ve seen in a long time.

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Watch Drones Fly Through a Fake Forest Without Crashing

Each copter doesn’t just track where the others are. It constantly predicts where they’ll go.

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The Pandemic Put an End to Rush Hour. What Happens Now?

Remote work generally reduces driving. But the travel behavior of telecommuters isn’t as straightforward as it might seem.

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If You Want to Live in Apple World, Gather All Your iDevices

This week, Apple doubled down on its vision of a seamlessly integrated ecosystem of products, software, and services. The catch? You need to be all in on Apple.

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Want to Write Better? Here Are Some Tools to Help You Improve

Whether you're drafting a memo or promoting a book, technology can make the task easier than ever.

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Crypto Isn’t About Money. It’s About Fandom

And that’s why we will fight about it forever.

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